G/TFA/N/BFA/1/Add.1  
 
3 December 2019  
(19-8319) Page: 1/14 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original: French  
 
  
NOTIFICATION OF CATEGORY COMMITMENTS UNDER  
THE AGREEMENT ON TRADE FACILITATION  
COMMUNICATION FROM  BURKINA FASO  
Addendum  
The following communication, dated 2 7 November 2019, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Burkina Faso  for Members' information . 
 
_______________  
 
 
Further to  the notification dated 9 March  2017 (G/TFA/N/BFA/1), Burkina Faso  hereby makes the 
following notifications in accordance with Articles 15 and 16 of the Agreement on Trade Facilitation 
(WT/L/931) . 
   
  G/TFA/N/BFA/1/Add.1  
 
- 2 - Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation (for 
categories B and C)  Definitive date for 
implementation (for 
categories B and C)  Assistance and support for 
capacity building required for 
implementation (for category C)  
Article 1  Publication and Availability of Information  
Article 1 .1 Publication  C 31 December  2024 To be determined  • Review existing legislation  
• Training for all relevant border 
agency officials in order  to ensure 
a better understanding of 
international obligations, relevant 
domestic laws , and the role and 
types of information that agencies 
need to publish . This includes 
other provisions of the TFA, e.g.  
Article 6 disciplines on fees and 
charges  
• Develop competencies of relevant 
units responsible for the 
publication of information  
• Develop standard operating 
procedures (SOP) for publication  
• Provide ICT infrastructure, 
including website development 
and agency linkages  
Article 1 .2 Information Available through Internet  C 31 December  2024 To be determined  • Conduct a  study to take stock of 
the range of publications produced 
by border agencies and assess 
gaps 
• Develop and implement policy 
guidelines and SOPs for the 
publication of trade -related 
information  
• Assistance to prepare description 
of practical steps for 
import/export/transit/appeal 
procedures for import, export and 
transit for each relevant border 
agency  
• Assistance to identify all required 
forms and documents  
• Appropriate equipment and 
software systems for border 
agencies  
• Relevant training for border 
agencies and users    
  G/TFA/N/BFA/1/Add.1  
 
- 3 - Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation (for 
categories B and C)  Definitive date for 
implementation (for 
categories B and C)  Assistance and support for 
capacity building required for 
implementation (for category C)  
• Raise public awareness of 
information available online  
Article 1 .3 Enquiry Points   C 31 December  2024 To be determined  • Designate appropriate agenc ies or 
department s 
• Train staff (including cross -
training) on core competencies  
• Train personnel on service delivery  
• Train staff on enquiry point 
management  
• Establish quality control standards 
and procedures , including fixed 
timelines  
• Develop  guidelines to cover the 
entire procedure (from the receipt 
of the request t hrough t o the 
dispatching  of responses to the 
requesting party ) 
• Development and use of 
communication templates  
• Establis hing quality control 
standards and procedures, 
including fixed timelines for replies  
• Acquisition of ICT and other 
equipment  
Article 1 .4 Notification  B 31 December  2025 To be determined  - 
Article 2  Opportunity to Comment, Information before Entry into Force , and Consultations  
Article 2 .1 Opportunity to Comment and 
Information before Entry into Force  B 31 December  2021 To be determined  - 
Article 2 .2 Consultations  C 31 December  2021 To be determined  • Assistance to establish a legal 
framework  for consultation 
purposes  
• Provision of an expert to conduct a 
diagnosis of existing domestic and 
regional regulation s, share best 
practices and build the capacity of 
the agencies involved  
• Preparation of implementation 
procedures for all the agencies 
involved  
• Sharing and dissemination of 
these new provisions    
  G/TFA/N/BFA/1/Add.1  
 
- 4 - Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation (for 
categories B and C)  Definitive date for 
implementation (for 
categories B and C)  Assistance and support for 
capacity building required for 
implementation (for category C)  
• Training of the relevant human 
resources in government agencies  
Article 3  Advance Rulings  
 B 31 December  2020 To be determined  - 
Article 4  Procedures for Appeal or Review  
 C 31 December  2022 To be determined  • Assistance to develop an appeal 
policy and relevant procedures  
and/or to review the existing policy 
and procedures  
• Technical a ssistance to develop 
policies to ensure  effective appeal 
and review procedures  
• Assistance to develop appeal 
procedures and to ensure that 
such procedures are shared with 
the business community  
• Technical assistance to develop 
standard operating procedures  
− Human resources/training : 
• Technical assistance to develop 
and build the capacity of key 
stakeholders (border agencies) so 
as to ensure a better 
understanding of appeal and 
review procedures . Training for 
Appeals Committee Members , 
specialized judges , etc. 
• Financial and technical resources 
for equipment and software , and 
expertise for developing an 
efficient electronic filing system  
Article 5  Other Measures to Enhance Impartiality, Non -Discrimination and Transparency  
Article 5.1 Notification s for Enhanced Controls or 
Inspections  C 31 December  2024 To be determined  • Legal and regulatory review to 
determine compliance with th is 
provision  
− Business process analysis : 
• Establish  clear areas of 
responsibility and mechanisms for 
carrying out related duties and 
tasks, including in relation to the 
validity of confirmatory tests 
throughout  the country and the   
  G/TFA/N/BFA/1/Add.1  
 
- 5 - Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation (for 
categories B and C)  Definitive date for 
implementation (for 
categories B and C)  Assistance and support for 
capacity building required for 
implementation (for category C)  
procedure for notification of the 
component in the exporting 
country  
• Develop  and validat e a manual on 
standard operating procedures  
• Disseminat e the manual  to the 
institutions concerned , if possible 
online, with a view to clarify ing 
their respective interventions  
• Staff training on the management 
of the formal notification system, 
and on  national and international 
best practices  
• Organiz ation of  focused seminars 
for economic operators  
• Build a globally accessible, 
instantaneous, ICT -based 
communication system for alert 
and information  notifications , 
linking the food safety authority, 
the National Agricultural 
Quarantine Inspection Authority 
and border posts  
• Strengthen mechanisms for 
ensuring  the right to appeal or 
review  
Article 5 .2 Detention  A - - - 
Article 5 .3 Test Procedures  C 31 December  2024 To be determined  • Amend relevant laws/regulations 
and ensure  traders have access to 
a second test  
• Assistance to develop  
accreditation criteria and/or to 
identify laboratories  with the 
capacity  to conduct relevant test 
procedures  
• Development of standard 
operating procedures , including 
with regard to  appropriate 
sampling techniques and the 
manner in which  conflicting results 
from second test s are to be 
handled    
  G/TFA/N/BFA/1/Add.1  
 
- 6 - Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation (for 
categories B and C)  Definitive date for 
implementation (for 
categories B and C)  Assistance and support for 
capacity building required for 
implementation (for category C)  
− Huma n resources /training : 
• Capacity b uilding for relevant 
border agencies, laboratory 
technicians and traders  
Article 6  Disciplines on Fees and Charges Imposed on or in Connection with Importation and Exportation and Penalties  
Article 6 .1 General Disciplines on Fees and Charges 
Imposed on or in Connection with 
Importation and Exportation  C 31 December  2024 To be determined  • Develop competence in using 
methodologies to quantify costs in 
order to justify fees and charges  
• Develop  a comprehensive training 
programme to periodically assess 
existing and new fees and charges  
• Develop and publi sh a single list of 
all fees and charges related to 
imports and exports  
Article 6 .2 Specific Disciplines on Fees and Charges 
for Customs Processing Imposed on or in 
Connection with Importation and 
Exportation  C 31 December  2025 To be determined  • Technical assistance for mapping 
and costing the services rendered 
by Customs , and for  developing  a 
fair and transparent fee structure.  
Article 6 .3 Penalty Disciplines  B 31 December  2025 To be determined  - 
Article 7  Release and Clearance of Goods  
Article 7 .1 Pre-arrival Processing  C 31 December  2023 To be determined  • Review  existing legislation 
applicable to this Article 
• Develop and publi sh procedures  
• Consultations with stakeholders 
through workshops, seminars and 
round table meetings  
• Training  
• Capacity building  for all border 
authorities  
Article 7 .2 Electronic Payment  C 31 December  2025 To be determined  • Review existing systems and 
policies  and determin e the 
feasibility of, and resources 
required to set  up and operate , an 
electronic payment system  
• Preparation of a strategy  
document for the development of 
e-payment  
• Developm ent of e -payment 
solutions (all banks)  
• Drafting/ amendment  of all 
electronic versions of laws and the    
  G/TFA/N/BFA/1/Add.1  
 
- 7 - Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation (for 
categories B and C)  Definitive date for 
implementation (for 
categories B and C)  Assistance and support for 
capacity building required for 
implementation (for category C)  
Financ e Act in order to implement  
an electronic payment  system  
• Procedures - Assistance to develop 
relevant procedures in order to 
implement an electronic payment 
system and ensure it is used 
effectively  
• Enhance the technological capacity 
of border and government 
agencies with a view  to 
implement ing an electronic 
payment system  
• Development, set -up and 
installation of appropriate 
technology and equipment to put 
in place an electronic payment 
system  
Article 7 .3 Separation of Release from Final 
Determination of Customs Duties, Taxes, 
Fees and Charges  A - - - 
Article 7 .4 Risk Management  C 31 December  2022 To be determined  • Review existing legislation  
• Assistance to develop a risk 
management strategy with target 
percentages of low/high risk cargo  
• Assistance to establish operating 
procedures  
• Drafting of  risk management 
committee  terms of reference  
•  Drafting of  position description for 
staff involved in risk management 
and creation of  a risk management 
unit 
• Train customs and quarantine staff 
to analyse  available transaction 
data from CMS, and to identify  
criteria for high -risk cargo  
• Assistance in areas of risk 
management analysis with regard 
to data-gathering and criteria  
building  
• Technical assistance and capacity 
building for the National   
  G/TFA/N/BFA/1/Add.1  
 
- 8 - Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation (for 
categories B and C)  Definitive date for 
implementation (for 
categories B and C)  Assistance and support for 
capacity building required for 
implementation (for category C)  
Agriculture Quarantine I nspection 
Authority  
• Develop risk profiles using 
available transaction data  
• A sound compliance management 
regime needs to be implemented, 
including with respect to the 
ASYCUDA inspection reporting 
module   
• The customs service requires 
technical assistance for training on 
targeting and risk -profiling  
• Technical assistance to develop 
the capacity of relevant border 
agencies , so that they fully 
understand  the risk management 
system  and are able to apply it  
• ICT assistance required to acquire 
and enhan ce the technological 
skills required  to conduct  a proper 
risk management process  
Article 7 .5 Post-clearance Audit  C 31 December  2026 To be determined  − Legal : 
• Develo p/review relevant 
legislation and policies for post-
clearance audit (PCA)  
• Develop procedures incorporating 
connectivity with risk management  
• Develop a training plan/module for 
customs officials and agents and 
target groups  
• Human resources/ training: 
Capacity building and training for 
customs officials on post-clearance 
audit procedures  
• Develop  the data-analysis skills 
and knowledge of customs and 
border agenc y officials . Capacity 
building and training for customs 
PCA officials on auditing 
techniques and methodology  
• Technological capacity  building for  
border agencies with a view to PCA   
  G/TFA/N/BFA/1/Add.1  
 
- 9 - Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation (for 
categories B and C)  Definitive date for 
implementation (for 
categories B and C)  Assistance and support for 
capacity building required for 
implementation (for category C)  
implementation and the 
incorporat ion of PCA  into risk 
management program mes 
• Provision of appropriate 
technology and equipment to help 
implement PCA  
• Draft and implement a program me 
to raise the trading community's 
awareness of  the role of PCA and 
PCA-related regulatory 
requirements  
Article 7 .6 Establishment and Publication of Average 
Release Times  C 31 December  2020 To be determined  • Assistance need ed to set up  
systems to meet TFA requirements 
regarding the regular 
measurement  and publi cation of  
average release times  
• Assistance to develop procedures 
for the regular  publication and 
measurement of average release 
times  
• Creation of a committee 
comprising several agencies to 
measure the average release time 
for goods  
• Training on designing, planning, 
conducting and analysing a T ime 
Release Study  for Customs and 
other bor der agencies  
• Raise border agency officials ' 
awareness of the need  for 
cooperation during and after the 
Time Release Study  
• Training and capacity building for 
staff/ officials  of the agencies 
concerned and economic operators 
on the interpretation of study 
results 
• Assistance to develop and 
implement an automated system 
to eliminate inaccuracies in the 
measurement of time taken for 
processes    
  G/TFA/N/BFA/1/Add.1  
 
- 10 - Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation (for 
categories B and C)  Definitive date for 
implementation (for 
categories B and C)  Assistance and support for 
capacity building required for 
implementation (for category C)  
Article 7 .7 Trade Facilitation Measures for 
Authorized Operators  C 31 December  2023 To be determined  • Develop  relevant legislation and 
policies that will allow for the 
creation of an authori zed 
operators (AO) program me 
• Develop proper procedures and 
criteria for the assessment of 
authori zed operators that meet 
specified criteria within the 
framework of the AO program me 
• Capacity building for all border 
agencies is needed to ensure full 
compliance with this measure  
• Develop a monitoring framework 
through which Customs can 
establish and monito r operators' 
complianc e 
• Support for the design and 
implementation of an appropriate 
system for authori zed economic 
operator s 
• Training of customs officers and 
relevant stakeholders in order to  
facilitate the establishment and 
smooth implementation of the 
authorized economic operator 
programme  
Article 7 .8 Expedited Shipments  C 31 December  2023 To be determined  • Develop relevant legislation and 
policies  
• Review/updat e standard operating 
procedures  (SOPs)  
• Develop instructions/SOPs  
• Training for customs and border 
agency officials on clearance of 
commercial cargo at airports  
Article 7 .9 Perishable Goods  B 31 December  2022 To be determined  - 
Article 8  Border Agency Cooperation  
 C 31 December  2028 To be determined  • Review  and amend , if necessary , 
relevant legislation  
• Review and create , if necessary, 
MOU between border agencies    
  G/TFA/N/BFA/1/Add.1  
 
- 11 - Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation (for 
categories B and C)  Definitive date for 
implementation (for 
categories B and C)  Assistance and support for 
capacity building required for 
implementation (for category C)  
• Review border procedures and 
cross-border  operations  in order to 
assess current situation  
• Harmoni zation of different 
systems between bordering 
countries  
− For both national and cross -border 
cooperation : 
• Enactment of the relevant 
procedur al regulations to guide 
operations  
• Increased  institutional capacity  
• Review and , if necessary, improv e 
infrastructure and equipment  
• Training/capacity building for staff 
of the various regulatory agencies 
at border s 
• Consultation s with stakeholders  
• Campaign to raise awareness of 
changes  
Article 9  Movement of Goods Intended for Import under Customs Control  
 A - - - 
Article 10  Formalities Connected with Importation, Exportation and Transit  
Article 10 .1 Formalities and Documentation 
Requirements  C 31 December  2025 To be determined  • Review/develop  a legislative or 
administrative framework for 
periodic reviews  
• Develop procedures and policies 
for reviews of formalities and 
documentation requirements  
• Develop capacity in respect of the  
analysis of trade formalities and 
documentation and the impact of 
such formalities and 
documentation  
• Establish consultation mechanism 
with all stakeholders (government 
and private sector)  
• Programme to raise a wareness of 
changes  
Article 10 .2 Acceptance of Copies  C 31 December  2024 To be determined  • Review and amend legislation if 
necessary    
  G/TFA/N/BFA/1/Add.1  
 
- 12 - Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation (for 
categories B and C)  Definitive date for 
implementation (for 
categories B and C)  Assistance and support for 
capacity building required for 
implementation (for category C)  
• Develo p regulations and 
instruction s 
• Training for officials  
• Programme to raise a wareness of 
changes  
Article 10 .3 Use of International Standards  C 31 December  2025 To be determined  • Training and awareness -raising 
activities for  customs officers on 
the use of WCO instruments and 
tools for the uniform 
implementation of the TFA by the 
customs administration  
• Support to attend standard -setting 
meetings  
• Training on existing international 
standards and related legal 
instruments ( e.g. ECOWAS, WCO 
and ISO standards ) 
• Assistance to develop a coherent 
and consistent national policy for 
adopting and implementing 
international standards  
Article 10 .4 Single Window  C 31 December  2028 To be determined  • Develop entire government single 
window policy/strategy  
• Conduct  feasibility study  
• Review and updat e relevant 
legislative, institutional and 
regulatory framework of relevant 
agencies  
• Analys e and harmoniz e business 
processes and 
data/documenta tion requirements 
for the import, export or transit of 
goods  
• Development of an appropriate IT 
system  
• Training for officials overseeing the 
establishment of , and using , the 
single window  
• Training for other stakeholders  
• Awareness -raising campaign  
Article 10 .5 Preshipment  Inspection  A - - - 
Article 10 .6 Use of Customs Brokers  A - - -   
  G/TFA/N/BFA/1/Add.1  
 
- 13 - Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation (for 
categories B and C)  Definitive date for 
implementation (for 
categories B and C)  Assistance and support for 
capacity building required for 
implementation (for category C)  
Article 10 .7 Common Border Procedures and Uniform 
Documentation Requirements  A - - - 
Article 10 .8 Rejected Goods  A - - - 
Article 10 .9 Temporary Admission of Goods and 
Inward and Outward Processing  B 31 December  2020 To be determined  - 
Article 11  Freedom of Transit  
   Article 11 .1-
11.10  C 31 December  2023 To be determined  • Review and amend , if necessary, 
laws, regulations, procedures, and 
documentation requirements  
• Review any transit fees to ensure 
they reflect the cost of services 
rendered  
• Assistance to assess the impact of 
measures applied to transit traffic 
(charges, regulations, formalit ies) 
and to ensure that objectives are 
legitimate and that the least trade -
restrictive options are applied  
• Review, improve  and amen d  
procedures for managing  
guarantees  
• Review/updat e automated 
systems to ensure  the availability 
of tools for the control of transit 
operations and the management of 
transit guarantees  
• Training for all stakeholders  
• Training/capacity building for 
transit coordinator  
   Article 11 .11-
11.17  A - - -   
  G/TFA/N/BFA/1/Add.1  
 
- 14 - Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation (for 
categories B and C)  Definitive date for 
implementation (for 
categories B and C)  Assistance and support for 
capacity building required for 
implementation (for category C)  
Article 12  Customs Cooperation  
 C 31 December  2026 To be determined  • Review/amen d laws, regulations  
and instructions  
• Develop procedures  
• Establis h an institutional 
framework , clearly defining  the 
role and authority of the contact 
point 
• Training/capacity building for all 
relevant officials/stakeholders  
• Examine the possibility  of a 
customs information system to 
verity declarations  
• Monitor practice s concerning  
protection and confidentiality, the 
provision of information , and the 
postponement or refusal of a 
request  
 
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